Imbolc and a late winter's day

Friday;
Imbolc was quiet, just Anna and myself. We did a small ritual at our indoor altar, blessing some seeds that we're going to make a garden with when the weather is right. Had taken some corn husks prior and made a "corn doll" to symbolize the Cailleach that we're going to place in the garden patch, and constructed a Bridget's Cross to have on the altar as well. Left some of my usual homemade oat scones out at the "well" (actually just a small circle of bricks, but it serves the purpose).

Saturday;
(my only day off work)
We decided to take a drive out to the woods, both to refresh our own spirits and to let our Jack Russell get some outdoor time. (Jack Russell Terriers=caged lightning). It was wonderful to see how much snow the Rim Area had received during that last storm, at least a foot if not more (found out the hard way as I tried to walk across a spot and sunk rather deep). Quite typical for this time of year, it usually has 1 to 4 feet of snow (last time with 4 foot was about nine years ago, though). It'll really help the drought conditions and hopefully stay off the dryness until the spring rains roll in.

So beautiful, so peaceful. Sunlight from among the trees glinting off the snow, ice crystals sending out their radiance in little rainbow dots here and there. Most of the snow had neither man nor animal tracks, although we did see PLENTY of rabbit tracks (must be a heavy population year for them), some elk track, fox, and some REALLY BIG cat tracks. We hated to have to head home, but it was late in the day, the dog was cold, and I had snow in my shoes!